Tester, Nelson unsure on teachers bill

Sens. Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Jon Tester of Montana were the only two Democrats who voted last week to filibuster President Barack Obama’s $447 billion American Jobs Act.

And they’re not yet sold on their party’s latest idea: Breaking off $35 billion from that plan for states and localities to hire teachers and first-responders.

Story Continued Below

“If I didn’t think much of it on the one thing, you’ve got to assume that I won’t think much of it for something else,” Nelson told POLITICO on Monday evening. “I don’t think you increase taxes for new spending.”

Tester said he wasn’t as concerned about the 0.5 percent surtax on families making more than $1 million to pay for the $35 billion plan. But he was unsure whether the new spending proposals would actually create more jobs.

“I’ve got more of a concern about a state aid package and what it’s going to do and how the money is going to spent and whether it’s really going to create jobs,” he said Monday.

Both men said they hadn’t seen the details yet and would not take a firm position until they have reviewed the plan.

But as Obama and Democratic leaders pounded Republicans for opposing a plan they say would lead to the creation of hundreds of thousands of crucial jobs - and paid for by a tiny tax increase on the country’s wealthiest - it’s clear that they’ll have to continue to woo moderates in their caucus. That’s especially true of those like Nelson and Tester, who both face a tough reelection next year.

While prospects for winning 60 votes to advance the plan in the Senate appear grim, Democrats hope they’ll be able to peel off some moderate Republicans like Scott Brown of Massachusetts, who faces a tough reelection next year. He said Monday he was still looking at the plan’s details.

At a stop in Millers Creek, N.C., on Monday, Obama continued to pressure congressional opponents to take up either his sweeping jobs plan - that was defeated by a GOP-led filibuster last week - or, at least pieces of it.

“And if they vote against these proposals, if they vote against taking steps that we know will put Americans back to work, they’ve got to explain not to me, but to you, why they’re doing it,” Obama said. “They don’t have to answer to me, but they do have to answer to you. You sent them there.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said the Senate would take up four individual components of the American Jobs Act, including the state aid package. Other proposals may include a payroll tax break, tax credits for companies that hire unemployed veterans and greater spending on infrastructure projects like roads and bridges. But Reid said he would discuss legislative strategy Tuesday at a closed-door party lunch.